Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 2, 2010

The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texian settlers and a detachment of Mexican army troops. In 1835, several Mexican states revolted against the centralist government of President Santa Anna. As the unrest spread, Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea, the commander of all Mexican troops in Texas, asked the settlers of Gonzales to return a cannon that the army had previously given them. When the initial request was refused, Ugartechea sent 100 dragoons to retrieve the cannon. For two days colonists used a variety of excuses to keep the soldiers at bay, allowing up to 140 Texian reinforcements to gather. In the early hours of October 2, Mexican soldiers opened fire as Texians approached their camp. After several hours of desultory firing, Mexican soldiers withdrew. Although the skirmish had little military significance, it marked a clear break between the colonists and the Mexican government. The battle, considered to have been the start of the Texas Revolution, has been referred to as the "Lexington of Texas". The cannon’s fate is disputed. (more...)

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